Author's Notes:

Hi guys! I'm so excited! I've been writing all week nonstop and the fic is coming up quite nicely, I have to say. I'm already over 20,000 words, and I've never written so much in English all my life!
Anyway, here's the new chapter.
There are notes at the bottom, just to clear a few things up.
Now enjoy, and let me know if you liked it!

Five years later found a more grown Light in front of a mirror.
He checked his suit, straightening his already perfect tie, and shrugged on the brown jacket on his white shirt. He made sure to have his wallet before exiting the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Light met Mikami in the kitchen, accepting gracefully a cup of black coffee from the other man. He sat down on the counter's stool and reached for the newspaper, giving it a quick scan.
"I don't understand why you read the newspaper. You're going to be briefed on the relevant things the moment you get to work" commented Mikami, sipping his own coffee.
"In this way, my friend, I always know most of the things in advance, and I can formulate theories while I get down to the central" explained Light, checking the time. A quarter past seven. He had time.
Nothing seemed amiss. There had been a couple of robberies in downtown Los Angeles, a murder and a suicide. A normal American day, mused Light.
He had settled in another country like a fish in the water, taking its habits and making them his own. The house he lived him was large but not too much, just enough for a big kitchen, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a sitting room. They even had a little garden in the back, but they rarely used it.
He relaxed, leaning his weight on his elbows, supported by the marble counter. The first months had been rough, but they were fine now. He had a job as a police officer in one of the centrals, Mikami worked part-time at one of the clinics, and in the weekend they relaxed.
It was almost too good to be true. Kind of boring, of course, without the excitement of the chase L's cases brought.
L.
Light grimaced, meeting Mikami's understanding eyes before looking at something else. He often had moods like this, where he mused and thought and almost cried. He missed the other genius. It felt like missing a limb, a vital part of himself. But he didn't regret his choice.
The sound of padding feet on ceramic tiles made him look toward the door. His five years old son walked slowly into the kitchen, his small limbs sluggish from sleep, white hair messy and untamed. Light smiled, greeting him with a silent kiss on the forehead before lifting him on the stool beside himself, letting him lean against his chest.
"Morning. Did you put on your contact lens?" Light asked, embracing him gently.
Near greeted Mikami, his soft voice slurred and tired. He hid his face against his father's shirt, suppressing a yawn. "I'm going back to sleep in a moment. Besides, it seems cloudy today" he answered, mumbling a bit.
"Then why are you up so early?" retorted Light, turning slightly to look out of the window. Indeed, big grey clouds were slowly filling the sky. Maybe it would be best to bring an umbrella with him.
"Wanted to say goodbye. I don't like not seeing you when I woke"
Near was slowly going back to sleep, now completely leaning on his father. The boy was used to waking up at 10, before beginning his studies with his private teacher Kate at 11.
"We'll see each other this afternoon. Now come on" Light lifted Near up, holding him on his right hip, and walked to the boy's room, entering the white ambient. He expertly avoided the dice's towers and the robots lying around the room, used to his son's quirks, and approached the bed, leaning down his load and covering him with white sheets. He watched for a few seconds the messy white hair, the pale skin, the eyelashes on round cheeks. He gave him one last kiss before exiting the room, closing the door.
"Remember to make him wear his lenses, I don't want him to force his eyes" he reminded to Mikami, while collecting his keys and gun from the sitting room.
"I've helped raise him too, you know" reminded Mikami, leaning against the wall. He was still in his night pants since he worked in the late afternoon, in order not to leave Near too much alone. "And like he said, it's cloudy outside, he should be fine."
"Yeah, but he's also stubborn, and if they begin hurting he will not put on his lenses, because that would mean he was wrong" retorted Light, shaking his head with a fond smile.
"Will do, then."
Light closed the door behind him, walking down the walkway to his car. He opened it, and stayed still for a moment, looking up at the sky.
Then he drove away.
You should see him, L. He's so much like you.

"River!"
Light's head shot up, looking over the short wall of his cubicle. He saw his boss wave at him from the open door of his office, and, after a brief nod, he started saving and closing his research on his computer. Looking at his watch, he noticed that his shift was almost over, so he collected his things and walked to the big private office in the front of the room.
Police Commissioner James Moore was a big man, Caucasian, with a big moustache and a jovial air around him. He motioned Light to come in, while talking to the phone and taking notes on a notepad. Light closed softly the door, sitting down in one of the armchairs in front of the huge desk. He waited patiently, neither fiddling nor fidgeting; he stayed silent, with his hands on his knees, a blank expression on his face. He knew that he hadn't done anything wrong, so he wasn't worried.
After five minutes, the Commissioner put down the phone, settling down on the seatback and sighing. Then looked at Light with a brilliant smile.
"Light River, one of my best Inspectors!" he said, taking some files from one of his drawers.
"You're too kind, sir" Light replied, always courteous, while feeling a tiny surge of pride and smugness. Of course, he was one of the best.
"Not at all" the other retorted, snuffling the papers. "Now, you've been here…"
"Almost five years, sir"
"Yeah, you're right, of course. Stupid paperwork, it makes my head heavy and confused. And who the hell decided to print these profiles with this small letters?! I'll end up blind, I swear on my mother's grave! Anyway, back to the point" he smiled again, settling down Light's folder. "In this time of the year, my superiors take notice of the best between my subordinates in order to make a list of people worthy of a promotion. However, this promotion consists of the possibility to move abroad and settle as an Officer or a superior rank in one of the countries who have signed a Security Treaty with the USA. Of course, my superiors always ask for my opinion, and this time I selected you as the best candidate."
The man stopped talking, giving time to Light to absorb the information. "Of course, you don't have to accept, you're welcome to stay here with us in Los Angeles. Hell, I probably shouldn't have given your name, so I could have had you still in my team, but my sense of duty is more important than my personal's – or this central's – gain, so… The decision is yours" he finished, looking at the other kindly.
Light smiled a bit, his eyes vacant while he considered the words of his superior.
He was comfortable there, in the USA, and hadn't considered the possibility of moving, but maybe he could consider it. He had to talk to Mikami, of course, and Near, and then they had to decide.
"I have to give an answer now or…"
"Oh no no, you of course have time to decide. It's a big opportunity, of course, but also a big decision. I heard you have a son, so changing town and even country can be… difficult. Think about it!" the man stood up, followed instantly by Light, and led the other to the door. "You have two weeks."

Light kept pondering on the offer during his ride back home. He thought about the positive things, like a change in scenery and the possibility of maybe learn a new language – like he didn't knew enough already -, and the negative ones, like… well, he couldn't think of anything.
He moved a strand of caramel air away from his slightly sweaty forehead, checking the sky while parking the car in front of his house. In the morning clouds had covered the sky, casting the world into barely lit shadows. After lunch the weather had cleared, giving away to the almost-too-much warmth typical of California. He locked the car, walked up the walkway to the door, and retrieved his keys.
Blissful coolness greeted him when he entered, closing the door behind him and remaining into the semi-darkness of the living room. The curtains were closed, as usual in a sunny day like this, and he had to stop a moment in order to give time to his eyes to adjust. It was silent, like always. He appreciated it, after the chaotic racket of the city, and Mikami wasn't a noisy man. Near… well, he didn't talk much, and moved even less.
"I'm home!" he still said loudly, loosening his tie and taking off his jacket.
A near silent white shadow approached him, bumping slightly his head against Light's waist before lifting his arms, wanting to be picked up. Light smiled, hoisting the child up and resting him on his hip, while moving toward the kitchen. He checked Near's face before setting him down in one of the counter's stool and opening the fridge.
"Mikami's at work?" he asked, pouring a glass of juice for his son and one of water for himself. He sat down in front of the other, giving him his glass and a pointed look when Near made to refuse.
"Yes, he left one hour ago. Something about a broken leg" Near answered, drinking reluctantly his milk. He rested one elbow on the counter, wrapping a strand of white hair around his finger. He then hesitantly looked at his father in the eyes. "Miss. Kate will not come here again."
Light sighed, more fond and exasperated than angry, and searched his son's light grey eyes*. "What did you do this time to scare her this badly? And you're not wearing your contact lenses"
"I took them off when Mikami closed the curtains. It's dark in here, so my eyes don't bother me too much, and I'm not going out anytime soon. I hate those lenses. They itch."
"I know you don't like going outside, but one day you will have to face the big bad world out there. It's better if you start practicing now that you've the time to adjust at your own rhythm."
"I'm not scared of the world out there, father, it's just the people. There are stupid. And confusing."
"You don't have to like them. Just… ignore them, if you can. Anyway, we have to do something about those clothes of yours. Near, you can't wear only pajamas."
Near stiffened, looking down at his white cotton garments, before narrowing his eyes at his father. "I like them. There's nothing wrong with them"
"I know they're comfortable, love, but you can wear other things, like trousers and T-shirts. Pajamas are not ideal to live in; they have been created for bed"
The 5 years old tried to find any fault within that statement, while twirling furiously his hair with his finger, in a show of distress. Light sighed, standing up and rounding the counter, before taking his son in his arms. The boy immediately clung to him, hiding his face in his neck.
"Tell me the truth, what it is that comforts you, the cloth, the color or the pajama itself?" Light asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear it from the other's lips. Despite Near's secretive and private tendencies, the boy was still his son, and he knew him well.
"The color" Near finally mumbled, his small shoulders slumping in defeat.
"Then we will buy only white clothes. How is it?"
"…It's fine, I guess."
They stayed like that in calm silence, hearing the faint sound of the clock's hand move around the quadrant.
"Don't think even for a moment that I forgot the explanation you owe me about your teacher" reprimanded Light in a low voice.
Near groaned.

"How do you feel about moving?" asked Light that evening, while they were all seated at the kitchen table.
Near remained silent, his expression blank while he moved his vegetables and fish around the plate, and Mikami lifted an eyebrow, waiting for Light to continue.
"Well, they want to give me a promotion that includes the possibility of moving in one of the countries allied in a Treaty with the USA."
"Seems interesting" commented Mikami, taking a bite of his steak. "You should know by now that I'll follow you anywhere. Besides, as a doctor, I can work practically everywhere, so the choice is on you two."
"Near?"
"I'm not opposed to the idea. I find the American… rude, in their own way."
"You never met one, love."
"But I caught glimpses of movies on the television, so I know what I'm talking about. I'd like some place more civil, but crowded enough so I don't have to… socialize" Near said the last word distastefully.
"Crowded is good, it reduces the possibilities of making certain encounters" hinted Mikami.
Silence fell on the room. Light looked at the table, feeling the already-too-familiar sadness clung to his chest.
"I'd like to meet him, one day" said quietly Near, taking a sip of water, his observant eyes fixed on Light's face.
"You will" answered Mikami, earning a sharp glare from Light.
"He doesn't have to know that I'm his son, father" Near stepped in before Light could start a full-on rant on the topic why meeting L is not a good idea. "I heard from you and the internet that he's quite smart, and apparently I take after him, so it's only natural I want to verify if the rumors are true. For scientific purposes, of course. It might prove interesting to see the level of both our intellects; I wonder if your genes combined with his managed to create something superior. You're quite smart yourself after all, father."
"There will be an occasion to sate your curiosity, I'm sure of it."
The lump of tears in his throat was back, like a long-known friend. He had become acquainted to the sensation in these years everything the topic of L came up. He had hoped, foolishly perhaps, that with distance his heart could have grown cold, and his feelings could have been buried in the darkest recesses of his psyche. But that hope had been for naught from the beginning. Light had always been a master at recognizing his own emotions, and when he had begun his relationship with L he had known that he couldn't back down. The decision had been made on their first night.
And because he had given birth to him, and had been there through all of his life, Light knew that Near didn't want to meet L only in the name of scientific purposes. He was curious about the kind of person his other father was, but was scared of the answers. So he cloaked his real motives behind his indubitably real curiosity on their shared genes and levels of intellect.
Near knew Light knew. His sharp light grey eyes looked at his father's golden ones, before lowering them on his half eaten meal.
Of course his son would feel the need to hide his feelings, thought Light with an almost bitter smile.
Vulnerability. We both fear it, hide from it. Don't we, L? It shouldn't be a surprise that our son is the same.
"Anyway, we were talking about moving" said Mikami, stopping the gloomy atmosphere from spreading across the evening. "Do any of you have any kind of suggestions?"
Light looked at his son, who shrugged almost imperceptibly. "For me is the same. I'm a five years old, my opinion shouldn't matter."
"But you're awfully mature for your age, and you secretly appreciate the care we put in your opinion on things. You really have no ideas?" retorted Light teasingly.
Near scoffed slightly, narrowing his eyes in clear annoyance, before refocusing on the subject and considering the possibilities. Then he hesitated.
"You thought of something" noticed Light, leaning slightly over the table. "Tell us."
"Well…" begun Near, uncertainly. "I've always been curious about Japan**."

Beyond Birthday was amused.
It had happened very few times in his life, and he relished in the feeling, while escaping the police patrols looking for him. He had left a trail of bodies behind him, beginning with A's corpse at the Wammy's House.
He briefly felt a twinge of regret at the corners of his mind, before brushing it aside. Alternative had had it coming, with all his questions about B's eyes, what they could do, what he could see. He had seen the madness take hold in his only friend mind, how he had become engrossed on dusty tomes in the darkest recesses of the Institute's libraries. And those books, they were abnormal. Grimoires, magic, witchcraft. He hadn't even known that they were there – and he had took pride in knowing every corner of the library, while his twin seemed to favor crouching on chairs in front a glowing screen.
Beyond knew the origin of his eyes, knew what they were, the harm they could bring with the right tools. No one could know about that. The temptation to kill would be just too strong for the sanity of a common mind. Fortunately, he wasn't common nor sane, so he hadn't really had the temptation to go looking around for a Shinigami and persuade his to give him their Note. He was quite content to sit around, acquire knowledge, and ponder on other people's lifespans, fluctuating red in front of his eyes every time he turned his head.
But he had made just one little mistake. He had been naïve, and hopeful, so giddy at the thought of having a friend, that he had told him.
Told Alternative about his eyes. And their origin.
And in the span of only ten years, A had deteriorated in front of his eyes.
His two damn eyes had killed his friend. Them and his loosened tongue. Well, and his knife, in a more physical way.
And he had run. He had stabbed Alternative in their bathroom, has seen the harsh spark of surprise, horror, realization, before the light had left his eyes.
He didn't regret it. Death was better than total madness, the one Alternative had slipped in. And he knew that A, had he been sane, would have agreed with him.
Unfortunately, his twin and Mr. Wammy hadn't agreed to his version of the events. Of course, they didn't know about all the stuff that had caused the tragedy, and they couldn't know, so he had escaped.
The problem.
Blood, like his lovely strawberry jam, is addictive. It's fascinating, with his colors. Ruby red in the arteries, rich with oxygen, and amaranth, filled with carbon dioxide. To think that just a little organ is responsible for pumping five liters of that nectar inside a man's body and ensuring his survival is… mind blowing.
So he had kept on killing. Not mindless slaughter, mind, he tried to pick those people whose numbers were already too low to last a week. He tried not to think of the probabilities, if those numbers were low because they would still be killed without his intervention or if by predestination in the moment he laid his eyes on them they were destined to die, with him as their killer. He didn't want to know.
He had played around Great Britain, then had decided to change scenery and had clandestinely boarded a flight for Canada. In the following weeks, he had toured the country, leaving behind him a trail of blood. Now he would continue with the United States, beginning with California. After the cold of the north, he was anxious for a bit of warm.
And he was there, in Los Angeles - he snorted, thinking that the Angels would be soon enough covered in the blood of his victims – strolling along the water's edge, kicking shells and small rocks. He wondered briefly what his twin, L, was doing, if he was amused by this little merry chase around the New Continent, or if he was angry.
Beyond sighed, scaring a kid with the blood red glint of his eyes in the setting sun. L had not been the same since his Light had run away. The genius hadn't known the reason, and the loss of his equal had weighted on him, even if he tried not to let it show. Beyond had noticed, of course. So had Wammy, who had now found another reason to hate Light Yagami.
But Beyond knew. Had known for a long time, before Light's disappearance, the reason for his decision. And he had understood. Light wasn't a genius for nothing. The 2nd, Kira, had been able to look around his feeling and see the cruel truth. That what he was carrying was an abomination. Not the kid per se, of course, but all the child-carried-by-a-male thing.
At first he hadn't known what was wrong with Light, but after some months he had seen. The numbers. The numbers never lied. Under Light's own lifespan had appeared another one, smaller, blurred, but clearly visible. Without a name, of course, because the child wasn't born yet. He had seen the phenomenon the few times he had ventured out of the Institute to the crowded streets of London, with pregnant women.
A nephew. He almost squealed out loud, and something must have shown on his face, because another kid startled so badly he almost fell.
He had a nephew. How exiting. He had been thinking about him? her? for the last five years, and was curious as hell. Family was important, after all.
He wondered dreamily if they had their dark hairs, or a mix with Light's caramel ones, or another color altogether. They would be smart, of course, and they would be glorious.
Beyond smirked, seeing a familiar twenty one years old walk down the street, unaware of being recognized.
Maybe he would be seeing them sooner than expected.

Beyond walked up the walkway of the house he had been watching for a few hours. It was dark outside, the nearest lamp post far away, so he barely could see where he was stepping on. The house was anonymous enough, clean, with a white façade and a red roof. Almost cliché in its simplicity.
He rang the doorbell, and waited, almost giddy with excitement.
After a couple of seconds, someone opened the door.
It was a child, five years old – he knew for sure, of course -, dressed in white pajamas who gave him the appearance of a little ghost, together with the white snow hair and the pale skin. Little owlishly light grey eyes looked at him, confused but sharp.
"May I help you, sir?" the boy asked with a high clear voice.
Beyond looked over the other's head, grinning at the floating red letters: Nate Lawliet.
"Well well well" he said, crouching down at the boy's level in order to see him better, not bothered by the invasive grey eyes tracking his every movement. "Look, it's my nephew!"
"Near!" a voice called from inside the house, while the sound of footsteps grew nearer. "How many times I told you not to open the door to…"
Light came to an alt, golden eyes wide and disbelieving, and instinctively pulled his son to him, resting a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"B?" he asked, still shocked, his every instinct screaming at him to take Near and Mikami and run.
"Kira, it's a pleasure to see you. May I come in?" asked Beyond, smiling widely.
Light stalled, not knowing what to do. On one side he wanted to know why the other was there, at his door, how he had found them, what he knew, and especially if L knew anything. On the other he didn't know if he could trust Back Up. The teen had always been kind of unstable, back in the Institute.
Beyond seemed to sense his reluctance and put on his more earnest face. "I swear I mean no harm to you or your family."
They looked at each other in the eye for a few minutes, before Light tugged back Near with him and allowed Beyond to enter their sanctuary.

The four of them sat in the living room, everyone studying the others. The first one to break the silence was, surprisingly, Near.
"I get that you're my other father's twin" he stated, looking at Beyond in his red eyes, not the least affected by the insane look of them.
Light startled badly, while Beyond grinned at his nephew. "Nea-"
"He knew already, father, he called me his nephew. So I didn't say anything new to him" explained Near, not taking his eyes off the man who was, apparently, his uncle. Well, the descriptions he had managed to extort from his father pointed him to be Beyond Birthday, so it was probably him.
"How did you know? How did you find us?" asked Light anxiously, tucking Near against his side. The child didn't protest, knowing the solace his father was finding in his physical presence against him.
"One question at once, Light-o. I actually wasn't searching for you. I was casually strolling down Los Angeles and puff! I saw your charmingly usual self walk down the street. Since I was curious about what hole you had crawled in, I followed you. And here I am!"
"Ok, this is plausible, even if I can't think of a reason why you're here in America instead of the Institute, but how did you know about my son?" insisted Light, sharing an anxious look with Mikami, who hadn't said a single word.
"You should know, Light, that there are a lot of things that I shouldn't know that instead come into my knowledge. I can't say how I acquired the secret of the existence of my nephew, but I can assure you I didn't say anything to anyone" reassured Beyond, leaning against the seatback. He looked more closely at the tense expression on Light's face. "… And L doesn't know" he added, making Light relax instantly against the couch.
Beyond shifted his gaze back to his nephew, with whom he began a staring match, neither of them blinking their wide eyes. He then smiled against and nodded his head.
"He's a sharp little thing, for a five years old. A worthy offspring of my brother and you" Beyond commented.
Light inclined his head, accepting the compliment for what it was.
"You still haven't told us why you are here in America" he reminded him, accepting his son's hug, that now that he had caught every clue he could was quite tired. It was midnight, after all.
"Well, it's a looooong story. Let's just say that I'm doing trouble all over the world, and I found Los Angeles to be quite worthy of my attention" Beyond grinned, his smile sinister and all sharp edges. "So if you don't want to be found, I suggest you move, because what I'm going to do will attract L here like a moth to the flame!"

End Notes:

*Near's eyes, as we saw in the anime, are dark grey, almost the color of dark steel. Here the original color is light grey, but with his contact lenses are darker, because the lenses add a darker film on his iris and pupils, in order not to let the bright light hurt him.

**I made a little bit of research (a fast one) and I discovered that there's a U.S.-Japan Security Treaty signed in 1960. I might be wrong, of course, but I needed a thing like this to make the transition work in a legal way. (I don't even know what I'm saying right know)

I think I have to explain why I have chosen Near.
It seemed like the most logical choice because he's quite similar to L (and I love him, but it's beside the point). I suppose I could have created an OC, but I'm not comfortable with them, and Light's son is one of the principal characters in this story, so... Near.